Major Dilhan Jayawardena elected President of Sri Lanka Automobile Sports for 2017/18
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Major Dilhan Jayawardena was elected President of Sri Lanka Automobile Sports (SLAS), the national Motorsports controlling body of the country, at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held recently. The SLAS elected a new executive council for the year 2017/18, to replace the administrative committee that functioned under the Director General of Sports of the Ministry of Sports, since early 2016.
Following the AGM, Major Jayawardena assured every effort to develop Motorsports and requested the support of all members, while explaining the need to work as a team with one agenda. He also said that we should set an example to our competitors, motorsports enthusiasts and other sports bodies in the country.
Major Jayawardena has had an exemplary military carrier, who opted to retire at the rank of Major. He topped his intake and was awarded the ‘Sword of Honour’ as the best all-round officer cadet. An officer of the Gajaba Regiment, he was awarded the, ‘Ranawickrama Paddakkama and Ranasoora Paddakama’. Upon retiring, he joined Capital Maharaja Organisation and Dilmah Ceylon Tea Co.
Major Jayawardena has made significant contributions to Motorsports. He was one of the pioneers of the Foxhill Supercross in 1993. With his military influence he was instrumental in launching Gajaba Supercross, Gunners Supercross, Sigiriya Rally Cross and Cavalry Supercross a reality. He was a committee member, Secretary and President of SLARDAR, and is an inaugural member of the Sri Lanka AutoSports Drivers Association (SLADA), where he was Secretary and now the immediate past President.
“In everything we do, it is very important that we, as the governing body, uphold discipline. We will only be able to gain respect and credibility from the member clubs if we uphold discipline at the highest levels. As the governing body, it is also our responsibility to develop the sport, have a short and a long term, a simple and achievable plan. Through development of the sport, it’s important that we provide opportunities and attract youngsters to enter the sport, provide opportunities for the current drivers and riders to develop, train and improve their skills. It’s also important we provide our drivers with opportunities and exposure to international competitions. In the meantime, we should have suitable classes to attract foreign competitors to take part in our events, which also would help our own competitors to develop,” Major Jayawardena stated.
Under Major Jayawardena 6 sub committees were appointed with the intention of executing short and long term plans. They are — Constitution Amendment Committee headed by Malaka Herath, Disciplinary Committee headed by Namaz Fowzie, Technical Committee headed by Ryan Todd, Event Approval and Track Inspection Committee headed by Shehan de Tissera, Track Inspection (Safety and Homologation) headed by Suranjith Premadasa and Motorsport Development Committee headed by Rizmin Razik.
Major Jayawardena, also mentioned he appointed all young members to head the respective Committees and thanked the Senior Members for paving the way for the next generation to take the lead in the above Committees. He requested all Senior Members to share their experience and act in an advisory capacity to guide the team in its proposed action plans. The new President also mentioned that, in order to assure utmost transparency in all actions, and in view of making use of some of the well experienced members, he invited some renowned individuals such as Suren Cooke, who would be a part of the Disciplinary Committee while the Disciplinary Committee will comprise of a retired High Court Judge and a Representative of the Sports Ministry. Deshan de Silva and Bri Ponnambalem will be external members of the Technical Committee and Dilantha Malagamuwa will be a member of the Track Inspection Committee while Ravi Dadlani, GM Sales and Marketing of CEAT Sri Lanka and Pradeep Kingsley of SriLankan Airlines, will be members of the Motorsports Development Committee.
SLAS Office Bearers and Council Members for 2017/18
- President: Major Dilhan Jayawardena
- Vice Presidents: Suranjith Premadasa amd Kalinga Samaraweera
- Secretary: Rizvi Farouk
- Asst. Secretary: Namaz Fowzy
- Treasurer: Rizmin Razik
- Asst. Treasurer: Upulwan Serasinghe
- Council Members: Pubudu Wickrama and Gamini Kavikara (SLARDAR), Mahesh Gammampila and Jayantha Fernando (SLADA), Dilshan Dodanwela and David Todd (MRA), Mahen Hurulle and Ryan Todd (CMSC), Ashhar Hameem and Andrew Silva (SMSC), Anil Jayakody and Ajith Hemachandra (SLMCC), T.G.N. Gamini and Malaka Herath (NMSC), Ryan Gray (Colombo MSC), Jaliya Jayasekara and Shehan de Tissera (AMRC)